Compare towns
Hector vs Reading vs Scriba vs Athens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hector has the most homeowners (91.4%).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Scriba has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Athens has the most expensive homes ($275k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Hector | Reading | Scriba | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,850 |
1,637Lowest |
6,603Highest |
3,936 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% NY: +4.2% |
+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.3% NY: +4.2% |
-4.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 51.1±4 28% above NY |
46.3±6.4Lowest 16% above NY |
46.3±3.1Lowest 16% above NY |
52.2±4.3Highest 31% above NY |
| Athens and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
17.2%±2.9 NY: 20.5% |
19.7%±3.6Highest NY: 20.5% |
12.3%±2.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Scriba and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25%±5 NY: 17.9% |
21.5%±2 NY: 17.9% |
18%±4.3Lowest NY: 17.9% |
26.3%±4.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Athens and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% NY: 40.2% |
37.9% NY: 40.2% |
25.5%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
39.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 NY: 7% |
4.2%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
1.2%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
2.9%±1.3 NY: 7% |
| Reading and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,904±$19kLowest 7% below NY |
$86,131±$9k about the NY average |
$92,036±$17kHighest 7% above NY |
$84,896±$14k about the NY average |
| Scriba and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,700±$32k 48% below NY |
$160,200±$37k 62% below NY |
$158,700±$10kLowest 63% below NY |
$274,700±$31kHighest 35% below NY |
| Athens and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$525 33% below NY |
$1,507±$514Highest 7% below NY |
$980±$67Lowest 40% below NY |
$1,264±$480 22% below NY |
| Reading and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,072 38% below NY |
$3,219Lowest 51% below NY |
$3,649 45% below NY |
$4,345Highest 34% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 81.7%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
33.9%±19.2 NY: 52.1% |
43.7%±13.4 NY: 52.1% |
31%±12.8Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 15.6%Highest NY: 14% |
5.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
10.3% NY: 14% |
6.6% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
81.5% NY: 54.3% |
84.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 20 yrs newer than NY |
1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY |
1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY |
1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 18% below NY |
28 min 13% below NY |
21 minLowest 34% below NY |
29 minHighest 10% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4.8 NY: 14.9% |
11.7%±4.6 NY: 14.9% |
6.6%±2.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
15.8%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Athens and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #261 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | — | COXSACKIE-ATHENS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NY average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.